Machine for counting paper money and similar material



March 15, 1938- E. P. DONNELLAN MACHINE FOR COUNTING PAPER MONEY AND SIMILAR MATERIAL Filed Oct. 15, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ENIOR.

,ZZz/an ZFZwwZbrg ATTORNEY.

March 15, 1938. E DONNELLAN 2,111,024

MACHINE FOR COUNTING PAPER MONEY AND .SIMILAR MATERIAL Filed Oct. 15, 1935 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY 0Q Z17 ATTORNEY.

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Man}! 1938- E. P. DONNELLAN MACHINE FOR COUNTING PAPER MONEY AND SIMILAR MATERIAL Filed Oct. 15

INVENTOR. ,ZTMYFfinneZ/d g.

ATTORNEY.

a ay-9 March 15, 1938.

E. P. DONNELLAN MACHINE FOR COUNTING PAPER MONEY AND SIMILAR MATERIAL Filed Oct. 15, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVET J'Z DEE, Fake/Z2355 ATTORNEY.

March 15, 1938. E. P. DONNELLAN MACHINE FOR COUNTING PAPER MONEY AND SIMILAR MATERIAL Filed Oct. 15, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 mvmon. ,ZZYMFZomei/ar; .BY

? ATTO'RNEY.

March 15, 1938. E. P. DONNE LLAN 2,111,024

MACHINE FOR COUNTING PAPER MONEY AND'SIMILAR MATERIAL Filed 001:. 15, 1935 6.Sheets-Sheet e Z I ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR COUNTING PAPER MONEY AND SIMILAR MATERIAL 13 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for counting paper money, tickets, or other sheet-like material; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel automatic machine for counting paper money or the like which is capable of high speed operation to effect accurate counting operations.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel machine for the purposes mentioned which will deliver, feed and convey the items to be counted in rapid succession through the machine in such manner that each item, as it moves through the machine, will cause the actuation of counting and tallying means.

Another object is to provide a machine for purposes mentioned which is provided with automatic control means for automatically stopping the machine if more than a single item at a time is inadvertently fed to the conveying means, so that two or more items moving together are promptly arrested and thus prevented from reaching and actuating the counting means, thereby avoiding risk of error in the count from such cause.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the kind mentioned, means for stopping the operation thereof upon completion of the count of desired predetermined number of items operated upon.

0 A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel means for delivering the items to be counted, successively from a stack thereof which is deposited at the receiving end of the machine, in such manner that the items are succcssively peeled" from the deposited stack, thereby substantially avoiding risk of delivering more than one item at a time to the feeding and conveyer mechanisms of the machine.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the novel counting machine according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, drawn on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through the machine, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary detail sectional views of the feeding means of the machine, respectively showing successive steps in the functional operation thereof; Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section, taken on line 66 in Fig. 3; Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary detail sectional views of the control means for causing the machine to stop in the event more than a single item at a time is fed to the conveyer means of the machine, Fig. 7 showing this means in 5 normal initial condition and Fig. 8 showing the same in operated condition; Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary detail sectional views of the item actuatable counting mechanism tripping means, Fig. 9 showing the same in normal initial condition and Fig. 10 showing the same in actuated condition; Fig. 11 is a detail fragmentary sectional view showing the counting mechanism of the machine; Fig. 12 is a detail face view of the counting mechanism in normal initial condition; Fig. 13 is a. similar view showing said counting mechanism in actuated condition; Fig. 14 is a detail face view showing the means actuated through the counting mechanism for opening the main switch of the machine to stop the latter upon completion of a count of a predetermined number of items operated upon; and Figs. 15 and 16 are fragmentary detail sectional views, respectively showing the means for receiving and stacking the counted items in various stages of its operation.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

The mechanisms making up the functional parts of the machine, in the illustrative form thereof shown in the drawings, are supported from a base i having laterally spaced side plates 2 and 3 upstanding therefrom, said base i being supported by brackets 4 from a suitable standard means or frame 5.

In a power driven type of the machine, an electric motor 5, serving as a power source, is mounted on a platform 1 carried by the standard means or frame 5. The motor 6 is suitably arranged to transmit power to a drive shaft 8. J ournaled in and extending transversely between said brackets 4 is a counter shaft 9 driven from said drive shaft 8 by chain and sprocket transmission III, or other suitable transmission means.

Journaled in and between the side plates 2 and 3 are longitudinally spaced transverse driven shafts ii and 12; the shaft ll being adjacent to the receiving end of the machine, and the shaft l2 being adjacent to the discharge end of the machine. Shaft H is driven from said counter shaft 9 by a chain and sprocket transmission l3, and shaft [2 is driven synchronously with and from shaft II by a chain and sprocket transmission ll. Fixed on said shaft H are grooved rollers or pulleys i6, and fixed on said shaft 12 are corresponding grooved rollers or pulleys l6. Running over and between said rollers or pulleys i6-i6 are conveyer belts l1. Mounted above the rollers or pulleys I6 are feed rollers II, the shafts iii of which are carried in spring-controlled bearing brackets 26 so that said feed rollers are respectively yieldably urged toward and into contact with the outer circumferences of underlying driven rollers or pulleys l6. Arranged in advance of said feed rollers i6, in parallel relation thereto, is a take-over roller 2!, the shaft 22 of which is journaled in and between the side plates 2-2. The feed rollers i6 are driven by contact with the rollers or pulleys l6 and, in turn, drive by contact the take-over roller 21 in the same direction through the medium of an intermediate transmission roller 22, the shaft 24 of which is Journaled in springcontrolled bearings 26 operative to urge said transmission roller 26 into mutual frictional contact with both the feed rollers l6 and the takeover roller 2i. Preferably said feed rollers l6, take-over roller 2| and transmission rollers 26 are each made of rubber or like material having more or less resilient characteristics.

The side plates 2-6 are suitably cut away at the receiving end of the machine to provide clearance for the operative movements of means for successively picking up and delivering items to be counted to the feeding and conveyer means. The

pick-up and delivery means comprises pick-up roll elements 26 fixed on a hollow transverse spindle 21. The ends of said spindle 21 are provided with peripherally grooved Journal elements 26 rotatably mounted in the free forked ends 26 of oscillatable arms 66. Said oscillatable arms 66 are respectively pivotaliy suspended from the respective side plates 26 by a fulcrum shaft 6i to which said arms are afllxed. Secured to the side plates 2-2 are fixed longitudinally disposed toothed racks 62. Fixed on the spindle 21 of said pick-up roll elements 26 are pinions 66, the teeth of which respectively mesh with said racks 62. Spaced above and parallel to said racks 62 are guide bars 24 which engage the hubs of said pinions 66 so as to guide the rectilinear inward and outward travel of the pick-up roll elements 26 toward and from the take-over roller 2i. The spindle 21 is provided with an axial passage 66, open at one end thereof, and extending through the pick-up roll elements 26 are radial branch passages 66 communicating at their inner ends with said spindle passage 66 and terminating at their outer ends at the maximum circumferential faces of said pick-up roll elements. Preferably the outer ends of said branch passages 66 are surrounded by resilient suction nozzle elements 61, the outer flared ends of which preferably pro- Ject slightly beyond said circumferential faces of said pick-up roll elements. Said suction nozzles 21 are preferably made of soft rubber, and are adapted to effect a close air-tight contact with items desired to be picked up and fed by the pick-up roller element. Means is provided for applying suction effect through the spindle passage 26 and branch passages 26 and operative at the nozzle formed mouths at the circumferential faces of the pick-up roll elements. Illustrative of one form of such means, there is shown a suction pump device 66 which is mounted on the platform 1 of the standard means or frame 6. This suction pump device, as shown, is of the reciprocating plunger type, the plunger rod 66 of which is connected, for properly timed actuation,

to a crank 46 operated by the motor actuated drive shaft 6. Said pump device is connected by aflexible hose or other suitable conduit 4] with the spindle 21 in communication with the open end of its passage 66. The means for producing properly timed oscillathn of said arms 66, comprises a shaft 42 provided in and between the side plates 22, and driven by a chainand sprocket transmission 42', or other suitable transmission means, from the counter shaft 6. Fixed on and rotated by said shaft 42 are crank members 46 which are respectively operatively connected by links 44 to the respective oscillatable arms 26.

Means are provided at the receiving endof the machine for receiving and presenting a stack of items to be counted in operative relation to the pick-up and. delivery roll elements. This means comprises a vertically movable carriage or platform 46 underlying the pick-up roll elements 26, the same having laterally projecting arms 46 extending through vertical slots 41 provided in side plates 2-2 and guided in vertically slotted guide posts 46 exteriorly of said sideplates 2-2, compression spring members 46 around said posts between the bases thereof and said arms 46 serve to yieldably thrust said carriage or platform 46 upwardly toward said pick up roll elements. At its underside, said carriage or platform is provided with a slotted handle means 66 engageable by the hand of the machine attendant to depress the carriage or platform '46 for the reception of a stack 8 of items to be counted by the machine.

Cooperative with the take-over roller 2i are yieldable presser pawls II for pressing a delivered item into operative engagement with surface of said take-over roller. These presser pawls are pivotally mounted on a transverse fulcrum shaft 62 supported between the side plates 2-2, and are provided at their free ends with rollers 66 to engage the surface of said take-over roller. Each pawl 6| is provided at its fulcrumed end with a dependent arm 64, between which and a stationary point is connected a pull-spring 66 operative to yieldably swing the pawl and its roller 66 toward the take-over roller 2i.

The operation of the machine, as thus far described, is as follows:

A stack of items to be counted is deposited upon the carriage or platform 46 the compression springs of which thrust upwardly the same to abut the topmost item of said stack in conthereof are downwardly directed. with the latter operatively engaging the topmost item of the stack 8. Prior to the inward rolling movement of pick-up roll elements 26, the suction pump device 66 is timed to create suction effect through the air passages and nozzles operative to cause the topmost item of stack S to adhere to the pickup roll elements. Following this, the timed operation of the 'crank members 46 effects, through the links 44, an inward swinging movement of the arms 66 to thereby move the pick-up roll elements 26 toward the take-over roller 2!. As said pick-up roll elements are thus inwardly moved, the pinions 26 thereof will travel on the racks 62 thus imparting to the pick-up roll elements an anti-clockwise rotation, thereby picking up the top-most items I from the stack S by its rearward marginal portion and thereupon rolling the same upon the pick-up roll elements while carrying the same upwardly and inwardly, thus producing an eiiect that may be characterized as peeling the item I from the stack 8 (see Figs. 4 and The picked up marginal portion of item I is consequently carried inwardly and thus directed toward the take-over roller 2 I. and is finally presented between the under surface of the latter and the rollers 52 of the presser pawlsil. Once the marginal portion of item I is thus engaged by the take-over roller 2|, the operation of the air suction means is so timed as to discontinue its suction effect through the pickup roll elements 26, thus releasing item I from the latter so that the grip of the rotating takeover roller 2| and cooperative presser pawls functions to propel the item onward until the same is gripped between the rotating feed rollers i8 and the outer circumferences of the conveyer rollers or pulleys 15, which thereupon continue the forward movement of the item I so that the same is delivered upon the forwardly moving courses of the conveyer belts I1. In the meantime, the continuing operation of the crank members 43 and links 44 operate to swing back or outwardly I the arms 30, thereby moving the pick-up roll elements 25 outwardly with reversed rotative effeet, so as to return the same to normal initial position for a repetition of the described operations.

Secured to the inner faces of the side plates 2 and 3. to underlie the forwardly moving courses of the adjacent conveyer belts ll, are ledges or supporting plates 56. Longitudinally spaced presser rollers 51 and 58 are arranged to engage the thus supported conveyer belt courses. These presser rollers are respectively carried by pivoted arms 59, extending respectively in opposite directions from pivot posts 60 mounted on the side plates 2 and 3 respectively, so that said presser rollers are held by gravity in operative engagement with said conveyer belts and with items carried forward by the latter.

Mounted above the rollers or pulleys i5 is a propulsion roller ii, the shaft 62 of which is carried in spring-controlled bearing brackets 63 so that said propulsion roller is yieldably urged toward and in contact with the outer circumferences of the underlying rollers or pulleys l6. Said propulsion roller Si is positively driven by intermeshing gears 64 and 65; gear 64 being fixed on the driven shaft I2 which carries the rollers or pulleys l6, and gear 65 being fixed on shaft 62 of said propulsion roller. Said propulsion roller Si is preferably made of rubber or similar more or less resilient material. Intermediate its ends and at one side of its circumferential face, said propulsion roller is provided with a concave cutaway portion or indented space 55 which intersects a circumferential annular clearance channel. or groove 61 by which the surface of said propulsion roller is indented.

The counting mechanism of the machine is arranged to be actuated as an item passes between and through the rollers or pulleys l6 and 65 the propulsion roller 6 i The counting mechanism tion thereon, is an eccentric transmission member 69, and frictionally engaged by the outer face of said transmission member 89 is a counter trip wheel II, the latter being also loosely mounted on said shaft i2 for independent rotation thereon in company with said eccentric transmission member 69. Slidable on the shaft l2, outwardly of said trip wheel I0, is a thrust disk II which is tensionaliy urged into engagement with the outer side of said trip wheel 10 by a compression spring 12 which is purchased against suitable means fixed on shaft H, such e. g. as the nuts 13. Said thrust disk ll frictionally engages the mutually contacting faces of driver disk GI and transmission member 6! together. Fixed on the shaft 62 of the propulsion roller 8i, so as to rotate therewith, is driver wheel 14, the periphery of which opposes the eccentric periphery of said transmission member 09. The trip wheel 10 is formed in its periphery with a radial stop shoulder 15. This stop shoulder I5 is normally engaged by the free end of detent lever 16 which is fixed on a rock-shaft 11; said rock-shaft extending between and being journaled in said side plates 2 and 3 below the conveyer belts l'l. Fixed on said rock-shaft TI is a detent release lever 18. the free end of which is disposed beneath said propulsion roller ii in normally up-raised position within the annular clearance channel or groove 61 of the latter. Said detent lever 15, rock-shaft I1 and release lever 18 are yieldingly held in operative detaining relation to the trip wheel 10 by spring means 19 or the like which operatively engages the rearwardly extending arm 80 of said detent lever. Projecting outwardly from the outer face of said trip wheel '10 is a trip pin 8i. Suitably mounted on the side plate 2 is a registering counter device 82 of any suit-= able type having an actuating lever 83. Pivotally mounted on side plate 2 adjacent to the trip wheel ii! is a trip lever fulcrumed at 84. The forward arm 85 of said trip lever is disposed in the path of movement of said trip pin 81, as moved by the turning of the trip wheel 10, while the rearward arm 86 of said trip lever is operatively connected by link 81 with the actuating lever 83 of the counter device 82. A pull spring 38 connected with the rearward arm 86 of said trip lever returns all parts to normal initial position after action thereof.

The counting mechanism as thus far described is adapted for continuous counting, and the operation thereof is as follows:

After the item I is delivered by the feed rollers it onto the conveyer belts ll, the same is carried onward by said belts, being successively engaged and held to the latter, so as to move therewith, by the presser rollers 51 and 58. The belts i1 finally carry the leading margin of the item I into the nip of the rollers or pulleys i6 and propulsion roller M. The timed rotation of the propulsion roller ii is such that the indented space 66 thereof registers with the leading marginal portion of item I, thus allowing space for yielding of such portion toward the propulsion roller until the item is moved far enough between the rollers or pulleys i 5 and propulsion roller ii to assure a strong and positive grip thereof upon the item, and its assured disposition over the free end of the detent release lever 18 (see Fig. 9) without risk of tearingor mutilating the item. Continued rotation of the propulsion roller 6| beyond this point brings the maximum circumference of the same into engagement with the item so as to tautly hold the same, and thus, in passing on over the free end of said detent release lever 18, to thereupon depress said lever. Depression of detent release lever I8 rocks the rockshaft 11, which in turn depresses the detent lever 18 so as to disengage its free end from the stop shoulder 15 of trip-wheel 18. thus freeing the latter for rotation. Owing to the frictional engagement of the transmission member 69 with the driver disk 88, rotation of said trip wheel 18 is initiated, thus starting its trip pin 8i toward the forward arm 88 of the trip lever. At the initiation of the above described movements, the eccentric transmission member 89 is so disposed that the low side of its periphery is opposed to the driver wheel 14, the periphery of which, under such circumstances, clears the periphery of said transmission member 89 so that normally no driving effect is transmitted by the driver wheel 14 to the latter (see Fig. 12). When, however, the trip wheel 18 is released and begins to turn together with the transmission member 69 under the frictional clutching contact of these parts with the drive disk 88 operated by driven shaft I2, the initial turning of the eccentric transmission member 69 carries the high side of its periphery toward and into engagement with the periphery of the driver wheel 14 which is driven by the propulsion roller shaft 62, so that, by the time the trip pin 8| engages the trip lever (and starts into operative moving engagement with the primary counter ratchet wheel of a predetermined count stop mechanism, to be subsequently described, when such count stop mechanism is employed), a strong additional power transmission efiect is exerted by the driver wheel 18, which is suillcient to overcome any resistance offered by the counter mechanism to be actuated, and consequently gives assurance against any slippage of the frictional power transmission from shaft I2 under such circumstances (see Fig. 13). As the trip pin 8i passes over and in contact with the trip lever, the arm 85 thereof is depressed, thus up-swinging the arm 86, and thereby transmitting, through link 81, operative movement to the actuating lever of the counter device 82. The item I in passing between and through the nip of the propulsion roller 6| with the rollers or pulleys I8 is thus counted and accumulates a unit to the total registered by the counter device. By the time the item I passes beyond the propulsion roller 6 I, the detent release lever 18 is freed therefrom, to in turn free the detent lever 19 for return to normal initial position ready to engage the stop shoulder 15 and thus again arrest the trip wheel 18 and eccentric transmission member 89 in normal initial positions ready for a repetition of the above described counting operation, which operation is repeated as each succeeding item I is engaged by and passed on between the rollers or pulleys I8 and propulsion roller 81.

The predetermined count stop mechanism operates in conjunction with the manipulatable main switch means controlling the electrical power circuit which serves the motor 9 by which the machine is actuated. In one illustrative form, this main switch means comprises a pair of normally separated spring contact elements 89 and 98 supported from the base I by an insulation piece 9I. Current from a suitable source of electrical energy is delivered by incoming circuit wire 92 to contact element 89, which, when engaged with contact element 98, passes the current on through circuit wire 98, thence through the motor 8, and thence by circuit wire 94 to outgoing circuit wire 95 back to source of supply. Slidably mounted in supporting brackets 96 at the side of the machine where the counting mechanism is located, and below the latter, is a longitudinally shiftable circuit closer bar 91 provided at its inner end with a nosing 98 of insulation material which is opposed to said contact elements 89 and 90. When circuit closer bar 91 is moved inwardly, the nosing 98 engages one of the contact elements, as 99, and thrusts the same into circuit closing engagement with the other contact element, as 98. The top margin of said circuit closer bar 91 is notched. as at 99, to receive the latch-piece I88 of a pivoted detent member I81, operative to hold the circuit closer bar 91 inwardly moved to its circuit closing position .and held against the tension of a retracting spring I82. At its rearward or inner end said detent member IN is provided with an upwardly inclined tail-piece I89 having. a chamfered nosing I at its extremity for purposes to be presently set forth. Projecting laterally outward from said detent member IIII is a stud I89, and connected with said stud is a pull spring I99 operative to yieldably urge said detent member III operatively toward said circuit closer bar 91. Rotatable on a journal post I81, which projects outwardly from side plate 2, is a sleeve I88 having aifixed on its outer end a unit counting ratchet wheel I89, the toothed periphery of which is disposed in the path of movement of the trip pin 91 carried by the trip wheel 18. Afilxed on the inner end of said sleeve I88 is a transfer wheel II8 having a laterally projecting secondary trip pin I I I. Said transfer wheel I I8 is of ratchet wheel form, the teeth of which correspond in number to those of said unit counting ratchet wheel I99. Cooperative with the teeth of said transfer wheel III is a pivoted spring pressed detent pawl II! to prevent reverse rotation and back-lash of said transfer wheel H8 and ratchet wheel I89. Rotatable on a journal post II9, which also projects outwardly from side plate'i, is an accumulator counting ratchet wheel I. the toothed periphery of which is disposed in the path of movement of the secondary trip pin III carried by said transfer wheel II8. Fixed on the outer face of said accumulator counting ratchet wheel II is a plate II! having on its periphery release cam elements II8 cooperative with the chamfered nosing I88 of the detent member tailpiece I89. Cooperative with the teeth of said accumulator counting ratchet wheel I I8 is a pivoted spring pressed detent pawl I11 to prevent reverse rotation and back-lash of said accumulator counting ratchet wheel. In the illustrated form of the predetermined count stop mechanism, the same is shown as adapted to stop the machine when count of one hundred items is completed. To this end the unit counting ratchet wheel I89 is provided with twenty teeth, so that at each complete revolution, the secondary trip pin III will engage and advance the accumulator counting ratchet wheel one step. Five revolutions of the unit counting ratchet wheel I89 will advance the accumulator counting ratchet wheel five steps, thus accumulating the five unit counts of twenty represented by five revolutions of the unit counting ratchet wheel to a total count of one hundred represented by the five steps of the accumulator counting ratchet wheel. A release cam element II8 of plate II! is brought into operative rela-. tion to the nosing I84 of the detent member tailpiece I89, when said accumulator counting ratchet wheel completes the live steps imparted thereto in the manner described. Such operative effect of a release cam element II9 depresses the tail-piece I89 and turns the detent member IN on its fulcrum to swing the latter upwardly and thus withdraw its latch-piece I88 out of the notch 99 of circuit closer bar 91, whereupon, under the influence of its spring Ill2, said bar 31 is retracted, and the nosing 38 thereof is withdrawn from the motor circuit contact elements 88 and III so that the latter separate (see Fig. 14), thus interrupting the motor circuit and stopping the machine against further operation until the circuit closer bar 31 is again thrust inwardly and latched. It

will be understood, that said accumulator counting ratchet wheel Ill may have any number of teeth in multiples or groups of five, with the plate I I5 provided with a release cam element I I6 corresponding to each multiple or group of five teeth. While the predetermined count stop mechanism has been shown, for the purposes of illustration, as operative for a predetermined count of one hundred items, it will be understood that the same may be modified to effect predetermined counts of any other number, by suitably altering the tooth ratio of the unit and accumulator counting ratchet wheels. It will be obvious that continuous counting effect may be obtained by simply removing the unit counting ratchet wheel out of the path of movement of the trip pin 8t carried by trip wheel 10.

After an item has passed beyond propulsion roller iii, and has actuated the counting mechanism in the manner described, the counted item I is delivered to stacking receiver means. Such stacking receiver means comprises secondary conveyer belts II8 driven by additional grooved or channeled rollers or pulley wheels IIQ fixed on the driven shaft I2 intermediate certain of the rollers or pulley wheels I6 serving the primary conveyer belts E1. These secondary conveyer belts Iii-i pass around a guide bar I 23 and suitably disposed supporting rollers I25 and I22 the shafts of which extend between and are journaled in said side plates 2 and 3. The forwardly moving courses of said secondary conveyer belts H3 pass beneath an upstanding hopper or housing I23 which is preferably hingedly connected with said side plates 2 and 3 by hinge ears @24, so that the same may be swung or tipped outwardly to give more convenient access to items stacked therein, when it is desired to remove said items therefrom. Journaled in and between the side plates 2 and 3, is a shaft I25, and fixed on said shaft I25 are sections of an eccentric lift cam roller I26 having a radial step I21 between its high and low point. This lift cam roller I26 is disposed just within and adjacent to the open inner side of said hopper or housing I23 at the bottom thereof, and is so arranged that the sec-=- ondary conveyer belts II8 pass between the sections thereof, belt supporting rollers I2li being mounted on said shaft I25 between said lift cam roller sections. Said shaft I25 is driven. from shaft I2 by sprocket and chain transmission I26, or any other suitable transmission means, so as to produce properly timed rotation of said lift cam roller I23. As a counted item 1' is delivered upon and carried onwardly by the secondary conveyer belts II8 toward the hopper or housing I23, the item is engaged by presser rollers I36, the spindle I3I of which is supported in bearing brackets I32 in such manner that gravity will cause said presser rollers to engage the secondary conveyer belts and the item carried thereby, thus assuring forward movement of the latter toward and into the hopper or housing. As the item I approaches and is about to enter through the open inner side of hopper or housing I23, the lift cam roller I26, as governed by its timed rotation in anti-clockwise direction, presents its high point I25 beneath the stack of items S previously delivered into the hopper or housing, while at the same time opposing the step I21 to the incoming item I, so that the leading end of the latter rides onto the low point of said lift cam roller. In this manner the previously deposited stack of items 8' is lifted (see Fig. 15) and upheld so as to allow the incoming item I to move beneath the same. When the incoming item I is thus started beneath the stack S, continued rotation of the lift cam roller, cooperatively with the secondary conveyer belts, serves to slide said incoming item wholly into the hopper or housing I23 to take its place at the bottom of stack 8' (see Fig. 16). To prevent displacement of the stack 8' through the open inner side of said hopper or housing I23, laterally spaced guard or keeper fingers I23 are provided, the same being carried by a transverse supporting bar I35 secured to and between adjacent portions of the side plates 2 and To assure against erroneous counts if perchance more than a single item at a time is inadvertently picked up and fed to the primary conveyer (as might occur e. g. if two or more items were adhered together), means are provided to automatically stop the machine operatlon before the counting operation is effected thereby. This means is arranged to operate circuit closing devices in a shunt circuit serving an electro-magnetic means for releasing the circuit closer bar 91 for interruption of the main circuit serving the motor 6 which drives the machine. A shunt circuit wire I36, leading from. the incoming circuit wire 92 of the main circuit, is connected with one, as I31, of a pair of normally separated spring contact elements I31 and. Q38 supported by a block or bracket I39 of insulation material mounted on a side plate of the machine so as to dispose the same adjacent to the feed wheels I8. Leading from contact element I 38 is a circuit wire Ilii which is connected with one pole of a solenoid I, from the other pole of which extends a circuit wire I42 which is connected with the outgoing circuit wire 95 of said main circuit, thus establishing a shunt circuit serving said solenoid. The solenoid I is mounted on a bracket I33 connected with base I so as to be disposed above and adjacent to the detent member Iiii which cooperates with the main circuit closer bar 9?. The solenoid I is provided with a vertically movable armature I44 which is connected by a link I45 to the stud I05 of detent member IfiI. Supported by the side plates 2 and 3, to extend therebetween, is a horizontai bridge plate it having a portion overhanging the rollers or pulleys I5. Aflixed to said bridge plate I46 is a bracket I41 having a vertically disposed channeled guide portion I48 disposed through an opening or hatch in said bridge plate. Vertically adjustable on said guide portion I48 is a bearing plate I 49, the same having a bifurcated lateral extension I50 at its upper end. Rotatably connected with said extension I50 is the finger piece I5I of an adjusting screw I52 which is threaded into a nut-piece I53 with which the bracket I41 is provided. Rotatably mounted on the lower end of said bearing plate I49 is a gauge wheel I53 having its periphery opposed to the outer circumference of a roller or pulley I5. Projecting from the periphey of said gauge wheel I54 is a circuit closer pin I55. Said gauge wheel I54 is yieldably held by a pull spring I56 in a normal initial position which is determined by engagement of a stop-pin I51, carried by said wheel, with the lower extremity of said guide portion I48. In the normal initial position of said gauge wheel I", the circuit closer pin I" is downwardly removed and spaced from said contact elements Ill and I, which are disposed to lie in the path of movement of said pin. By turning the adjusting screw "2 the bearing plate I48 may be vertically adjusted to position the periphery of the gauge wheel I in a predetermined spaced relation to the other circumference of the roller or pulley II to which it is opposed. Such spacing is so adjusted as to provide a clearance space between said wheel I84 and roller or pulley I5 suflicient to permit the thickness of a single item to pass beneath the gauge wheel without frictional contact therewith sumcient to impart rotation to said wheel (see Fig. 7) thus assuring desired forward movement of successive single items. In the event two or more items are adhered or otherwise caused to move forward together, the increased thickness of the thus combined items will cause the same to engage the periphery of the gauge wheel I54 with sufiicient friction to cause rotation of the same in a clockwise direction. when rotary movement is thus imparted to the gauge wheel, its movement will carry upwardly the circuit closer pin I58 into circuit closing engagement with the contact elements I31 and I" (see Fig. 8), which are thereby closed together to close the shunt circuit serving the solenoid I. When the solenoid MI is thus energized, its armature I44 is uplifted, thereupon pulling upwardly upon the link I 45, and, by the engagement of'the latter with stud III! of detent member Ill, thereby upswinging said detent member so as to release circuit closer bar 91, whereupon the main circuit serving motor 6 is interrupted and the machine is immediately brought to a stop. The machine attendant upon removing the adhered items, may again start up the machine, by thrusting inward the circuit closer bar 91 to circuit closing position.

In order that the machine attendant may be warned that the machine has stopped, either by reason of the attempted passage of two or more items, or by reason of the completion of a count of a predetermined number of items, a signal means to give such notification is provided. Illustrative of one type of such signal, an electric signal lamp I" is shown, the same being adapted, by its illumination, to give a visual signal. The means for controlling the signal is actuated by movements of the circuit closer bar 91 to open and close a shunt circuit serving said lamp I59. This circuit comprises a circuit wire I 60 leading from the incoming main'circuit wire 92 to a movable contact element I 6|. Said movable contact element cooperates with a fixed contact element Itl which is connected by a circuit wire I62 with one pole of lamp I59, the circuit being completed from the other pole of said lamp through a circuit wire I83 back to the outgoing main circuit wire 85. Said movable contact element ISI is carriedon an oscillatable arm I64 which is pivotally supported by a standard or post I65 above the base adjacent to said circuit closer bar 91. Afiixed to the side of said circuit closer bar 91 is a bracket I66 from which projects a laterally extending lift pin I" which underlies said arm I84. The under margin of said arm I84 is provided with a cam-like indentation I80. when the circuit closer bar 91 is inwardly thrust to circuit closing position, the lift pin I6! is disposedbeyond the indentation I" of arm I64, thus serving to uplift said arm to hold the movable contact element ISI out of contact with the fixed contact element Itl', thus interrupting the shunt circuit serving the signal lamp I59. When, by occurrence of either of the above mentioned causes. the circuit closer arm 91 is released and retracted to main circuit interrupting position. whereby the machine is stopped, the lift-pin I" is moved with the circuit closer bar 91 into the indentation I of arm I64, thus permitting said arm to swing downward. and thereby carrying the movable contact element III into circuit closing engagement with fixed contact element Iii, whereupon current immediately flows through the shunt circuit serving said signal lamp Ill, so that the latter is illuminated to thereby give visual signal to the attendant that the machine is stopped and requires attention for resumed operation. It will be obvious that other forms of signal means may be utilized, such e. g. as an audible signal, and that variations may be made in the signal control means.

The machine of this invention is well adapted to count various kinds of sheet material, but is especially adapted to count paper money. For the latter service, the machine, as illustratively shown in the drawings, is arranged to receive and move the bills to be counted through the machine, in a. crosswise position, i. c. with the lengths of the bills lying transversely to the path of movement thereof through the machine. It will be understood, however, that the machine may be equally well arranged to receive and move the bills therethrough in a lengthwise position, i. e. with the length of the bills ly g parallel to the path of movement thereof through the machine. In the latter case no change in the functional construction or mode of operation of the machine is necessary except to increase the diameters of the pick-up roll elements 28, the rollers or pulleys I8 and the propulsion roller 6| cooperative therewith, and the lift-cam roller I26 to better accommodate these parts proportionally to the length of the bills rather than to the width thereof; and, in like manner, the path of movement of the bills through the machine is narrowed down to conform to the width of the bill rather than to the length thereof. These, it will be understood, are all changes in proportion or size rather than changes in functional character and relationship of the operative parts of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention and have described the same in the above specification merely in a preferred form and by way of example, but obviously many .alterations and variations may be made therein and in its component mechanisms and parts as well as in the mode of operation thereof, which will still be comprised within the spirit of my invention. Generally speaking, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to any specific form or embodiment except in so far as is defined in the here following claims.

I claim:

1. In a. machine of the class described, comprising means to pick up sheets of material successively from a deposited stack thereof and deliver the same to a conveyer means, a counting mechanism, means to which the sheets are successively delivered by the conveyer means for propelling the same into actuating contact with said counting mechanism, a receiving stacker means at the discharge end of said conveyer means for the counted sheets including means for raising the pile of sheets previously delivered and stacked therein for the insertion and reception of each successively delivered sheet beneath and at the bottom of said pile.

2. In a machine of the class described, a conveyer means, means to pick up sheets of material successively from a deposited stack thereof and deliver the same onto said conveyer means, a counting mechanism, means to which the sheets are successively delivered by the conveyer means for propelling the same into actuating contact with said counting mechanism, an electric driving motor, transmission means actuated by said motor to operate said conveyer means, pick up means and propelling means by which the sheets are manipulated, a power circuit serving said motor including -a control switch, a movable spring-released switch closing means, and a detent for holding the latter means in switch closing position, said counting mechanism including means for tripping said detent to stop the machine when a predetermined number of sheets have been counted.

3. In a machine of the class described, a conveyer means, means to pick up sheets of material successively from a deposited stack thereof and deliver the same onto said conveyer means, a counting mechanism, means to which the sheets are successively delivered by the conveyer means for propelling the same into actuating contact with said counting mechanism, an electric driving motor, transmission means actuated by said motor to operate said conveyer means, pick up means and propelling means by which the sheets are manipulated, a power circuit serving said motor including a control switch, a movable spring-released switch closing means, a detent for holding the latter means in switch closing position, and means adapted to be actuated by a superimposed plurality of sheets of material for tripping said detent to stop the machine so as to prevent delivery of such plural sheets by said conveyer means into actuating relation to said counting mechanism.

4. In a machine of the class described, a conveyer means, means to pick up sheets of material successively from a deposited stack thereof and deliver the same onto said conveyer means, a counting mechanism, means to which the sheets are successively delivered by the conveyer means for propelling the same into actuating contact with said counting mechanism, an electric driving motor, transmission means actuated by said motor to operate said conveyer means, pick up means and propelling means by which the sheets are manipulated, a power circuit serving said motor including a control switch, a movable spring-released switch closing means, a detent for holding the latter means in switch closing position, and means adapted to be actuated by a superimposed plurality of sheets of material for tripping said detent to stop the machine so as to prevent delivery ofsuch plural sheets by said conveyer means into-actuating relation to said counting mechanism, said counting mechanism also including means for tripping said detent to stop the machine when a predetermined number of sheets have been counted.

5. A machine of the class described as defined in claim 3, wherein the means adapted to be actuated by a superimposed plurality of sheets comprises an electro-magnetic means operatively interlinked to the detent, a circuit serving said electro-magnetic means having a normally open switch, a gauge wheel opposed to the path of movement of sheet material so as to normally clear single sheets traveling in said path but so as to be engaged and rotated by superimposed sheets, and said gauge wheel having means adapted to be carried by its rotation into closing relation to said switch.

6. A machine of the class described as defined in claim 4, wherein the means adapted to be actuated by a superimposed plurality of sheets comprises an electro-magnetic means operatively interlinked to the detent, a circuit serving said electro-magnetic means having a normally open switch, a gauge wheel, means for adjusting said gauge wheel to the path of movement of sheet material so as to normally clear single sheets traveling in said path but so as to be engaged and rotated by superimposed sheets, and said gauge wheel having means adapted to be carried by its rotation into closing relation to said switch.

In a machine of the class described, a counting mechanism including a trip wheel, power actuated means for driving said trip wheel, means for holding said-trip wheel normally inactive, means for releasing said trip wheel holding means to free said trip wheel for operation, and means to which sheets to be counted are successively delivered for propelling said sheets into actuating engagement with said releasing means.

8. In a machine of the class described, a counting mechanism including a trip wheel, means for holding said trip wheel normally inactive, a transmission member having an eccentric periphery aillxed to and rotatable with said trip wheel, power actuated frictional clutch means to impart initial movement to said trip wheel and its associated transmission member, a power actuated driver wheel opposed to said transmission member, said eccentric transmission member when in normal initial position having its low side opposed to but unengaged by said driver wheel, said driver wheel being adapted to contact the high side of said eccentric transmission member with strong driving eifect after movement of the latter is initiated, means for releasing said trip wheel holding means to free said trip wheel for operation, and means to which sheets to be counted are successively delivered for propelling said sheets intoactuating engagement with said releasing means.

9. In a machine of the kind described, a conveyer means, means to pick up sheets of material successively from a deposited stack thereof and deliver the same onto said conveyer means, a counting mechanism including a trip wheel, power actuated means for driving said trip wheel, means for holding said trip wheel normally inactive, means for releasing said trip wheel holding means to free said trip wheel for operation, means to which sheets to be counted are successively delivered by said conveyer means for propelling said sheets into actuating engagement with said releasing means, an electric driving motor, transmission means actuated by said motor to operate said pick up means, conveyer means, propelling means and trip wheel actuating means, a power circuit serving said motor includin a control switch, a movable spring-released switch closing means, and a detent for holding the latter means in switch closing position, said counting mechanism including means for tripping said detent to stop the machine when a predetermined number of sheets have been counted.

10. In a machine of the kind described, a conveyor means, means to pick up sheets of material successively from a deposited stack thereof and deliver the same onto said conveyer means, a counting mechanism including a trip wheel, means for holding said trip wheel normally inactive, a transmission member having an eccentric periphery afllxed to and rotatable with said trip, wheel power actuated frictional clutch means to impart initial movement to said trip wheel and its associated transmission, member, a power actuated driver wheel opposed to said transmission member, said eccentric transmission member when in normal initial position having its low side opposed to but unengaged by said driver wheel, said driver wheel being adapted to contact the high side of said eccentric transmission member with strong driving effect after movement 01' the latter is initiated, means for releasing said trip wheel holding means to free said trip wheel for operation, means to which sheets to be counted are successively delivered by said conveyer means for propelling said sheets into actuating engagement with said releasing means, an electric driving motor, transmission means actuated by said motor to operate said pick-up means, conveyer means, propelling means, frictional trip-wheel clutch means and driver wheel, a power circuit serving said motor including a control switch, a movable spring-released switch closing means, and a detent for holding the latter means in switch closing position, said counting mechanism including means for tripping said detent to stop the machine when a predetermined number of sheets have been counted.

11. In a machine of the class described as defined in claim 9, means to stop the machine and prevent superimposed sheets from initiating operation of the counting mechanism comprising, an electro-magnetic means operatively interlinked with the detent serving said motor circuit switch closing means, a circuit serving said electro-magnetic means having a normally open switch, a gauge wheel, means for adjusting said gauge wheel to the path of movement of sheet material so as to normally clear single sheets traveling in said path but so as to be engaged and rotated by superimposed sheets, and said gauge wheel having means adapted to be carried by its rotation into closing relation to said switch.

12. In a machine of the class described, .comprising a roller supported conveyer belt means, feed roller means cooperative with the supporting roller at the receiving end of said conveyer belt means, a take-over roller means in advance of said feed roller means adapted to deliver sheets of material to said feed roller and conveyer belt means, means to pick up sheets 01' material successively from a deposited stack thereof and deliver the same to said take-over roller means, a counting mechanism, and means to which the sheets are successively delivered by the conveyer means for propelling the same into actuating contact with said counting mechanism.

13. In a machine of the class described, comprising a roller supported conveyer belt means, feed roller means cooperative with the supporting roller at the receiving end of said conveyer belt means, a take-over roller means in advance of said feed roller means adapted to deliver sheets of material to said feed roller and conveyer belt means, means to pick up sheets of material successively from a deposited stack thereof and deliver the same to said take-over roller means, a counting mechanism, means to which the sheets are successively delivered by the conveyer means for propelling the same into actuating contact with said counting mechanism, and means associated with said feed roller means adapted to be actuated by a superimposed plurality 01' sheets of material for causing the stopping of the machine to prevent delivery or such plural sheets by said conveyer means into actuating relation to said counting mechanism.

EDWARD P. DONNEILAN. 

